Question 1

Corbin recently found out that he has cancer, and he now strictly follows a treatment, diet, and exercise program that the doctor thinks will be helpful in keeping the cancer from spreading. These behaviors best illustrate __________-focused coping.

Accepted Answer

Problem-focused coping involves taking direct steps to solve a problem or reduce its impact, such as following a treatment plan to manage a health condition.

Question 2

Nelson experiences a lot of chronic stress at work, and his wife has asked for a divorce. Surprisingly, Nelson seems to be exhibiting very few stress reactions. He has a large network of friends who help him deal with his stressors. The support his friends provide is a

Accepted Answer

The support Nelson's friends provide acts as a stress mediator, which means it helps to mediate or lessen the impact of stress on him. This is because social support can provide emotional comfort, practical help, and advice, which can make stressors seem more manageable and less threatening.

Question 3

After receiving a partridge, two turtle doves, and three French hens from his true love, Luke is experiencing stress because he hasn't sent a single present to his true love yet! However, Luke decides to think about his situation as a challenge rather than a problem, and he realizes that he can talk to his friends about good gift ideas. In this example, which stress mediators are most clearly operating?

Accepted Answer

Luke is using cognitive appraisal by reinterpreting the situation as a challenge rather than a problem, and he is seeking social support by talking to his friends for gift ideas.

Question 4

Your friend has been stressed recently, and you are concerned that if it continues, he will become depressed. You know which of the following will be helpful to him in reducing stress and preventing depression during stressful periods?

Accepted Answer

Strong social support can help reduce stress and prevent depression by providing emotional support, practical help, and a sense of belonging.

Question 5

Which of the following is not an example of problem-focused coping?

Accepted Answer

Positive reappraisal is an emotion-focused coping strategy, as it involves changing one's perspective on a situation rather than addressing the problem directly.

Question 6

Which of the following is not representative of someone with a disease-resistant personality?

Accepted Answer

A disease-resistant personality is characterized by adaptability, viewing stress as a challenge, not catastrophizing stressors, and not blaming oneself for stress. Inability to adapt is not representative of such a personality.

Question 7

Little Jill creeps downstairs on Christmas Eve to try to see Santa. To her shock, she sees her mommy kissing Santa Claus underneath the mistletoe! In response to this stressful sight, Jill wishes that it had never happened and tries not to think about it too much. She is trying to stop herself from thinking about how upsetting it was to see Mommy and Santa in such a compromising position! In this example, Jill is using __________-focused coping methods.

Accepted Answer

Jill is using emotion-focused coping methods as she is trying to manage her emotional response to the stressful situation by wishing it hadn't happened and avoiding thinking about it.

Question 8

Vernita is dealing with a lot of stress in her life. While social support is generally a positive stress mediator, sometimes it can be disruptive or inadequate. All of the following may lead to problematic social support except

Accepted Answer

Keeping pent-up thoughts to herself is not an example of problematic social support; rather, it is a personal choice that may or may not affect the quality of social support she receives.

Question 9

You find yourself in a stressful environment. All of the following conditions should help you cope with the stress except

Accepted Answer

Cognitive flooding involves overwhelming oneself with stress-related thoughts, which can increase stress rather than help cope with it.

Question 10

Seena is extremely nervous about an exam that she has tomorrow. To relieve stress, she decides to stop thinking about the exam, and she spends her evening watching television and thinking happy thoughts. Seena is using a(n)__________ coping method.

Accepted Answer

Seena is using an emotion-focused coping method, which involves managing emotions and stress rather than addressing the problem directly.

Question 11

Rosario is a nurse in a large metropolitan hospital. There are some shifts that are very busy and very stressful. Which of the following would be the best example of a problem-focused coping strategy to help her deal with these stressful times?

Accepted Answer

Problem-focused coping involves identifying and addressing the source of stress. By determining busier times, Rosario can prepare and manage her workload better, directly addressing the stressor.

Question 12

When Alyson faces a stressful problem, she concentrates on controlling negative thoughts and reassuring herself that she can handle the situation. She also plans her day, so she doesn't have time to think about the problem. Alyson is using __________-focused coping to deal with her stress.

Accepted Answer

Alyson is using emotion-focused coping, which involves managing emotions and thoughts related to the stressor rather than addressing the problem directly.

Question 13

Justin has been writing songs about his use of emotion-focused coping strategies in dealing with his relationship problems. Each of the following could be an appropriate song title except

Accepted Answer

The answer of Justin has been writing songs about his...

Question 14

Rick's marriage is fairly stable. George, on the other hand, fights with his wife and worries that she might leave him. According to the results of the Terman Life Cycle Study, George is more likely to __________ than Rick.

Accepted Answer

The Terman Life Cycle Study found that people who reported high levels of marital dissatisfaction and conflict were more likely to die at a younger age compared to those in stable marriages. Therefore, George's unstable marriage and fear of his wife leaving him puts him at a higher risk of dying at a younger age compared to Rick.

Question 15

Marcus recently lost his job after his company was bought out by a competitor. His wife Alexis knows that he is very stressed as a result, so today she has gone to great effort to create a relaxing environment in the house. Their infant son is sleeping at her parents' house, she has cooked Marcus's favorite dinner, and has rented his favorite movie so that they can watch it when they're done eating. Alexis is trying to use ________-focused coping to help her husband.

Accepted Answer

Alexis is using emotion-focused coping by creating a relaxing environment to help Marcus manage his stress and emotions.

Question 16

Neil is nervous about an upcoming presentation he has to give at a conference. To cheer him on, Neil's wife and brother decide to sit in the audience during his talk. Upon seeing them in the audience, Neil becomes even more stressed with the added concern that he will mess up in front of his loved ones. This example demonstrates that

Accepted Answer

Social support is not always positive, as it can sometimes increase stress, as seen in Neil's case where the presence of his loved ones added pressure.

Question 17

Renata often has conflicts with her boss at work, which causes her a great deal of stress. To cope with her stress, Renata develops a plan of action to confront her boss so that her situation will be less stressful. In this situation, Renata exhibits

Accepted Answer

Renata's plan of action to confront her boss is an example of problem-focused coping, which involves taking direct actions to manage or solve the problem causing the stress.

Question 18

Han-Sung is a university student who feels very anxious and on edge when he is struggling to get everything done. To feel less anxious, he listens to relaxing classical music. Which form of coping skills does Han-Sung employ?

Accepted Answer

Han-Sung's strategy of listening to relaxing classical music is a form of emotion-focused coping, which aims to manage the emotional distress that comes with the situation.

Question 19

Research on the predictability of stress has shown that

Accepted Answer

Unpredictable stressors tend to have a greater impact because they do not allow individuals to prepare or cope in advance, leading to higher stress levels.

Question 20

When Friedman and his associates analyzed the Terman Life Cycle Study to find the personality characteristics that predict long life, they found a link between __________ and longevity.

Accepted Answer

Friedman and his associates found a link between conscientiousness and longevity. Specifically, individuals who were described as "conscientious" - organized, responsible, and dependable - tended to live longer than those who were less conscientious.

Quiz 10: Health, Stress, and Coping